Multipurpose ball handling system

ABSTRACT

A multipurpose ball handling system including at least one projector, at least one motion sensor, and a controller. The projector projects one or more images on a surface. The one or more images simulating an environment for a ball handling activity. The one or more images are projected onto a surface where a user can practice one or more ball handling drills. The motion sensor includes a laser. The laser points at the projected one or more images and the motion sensor sensing when a ball crosses the laser&#39;s path. The motion sensor activates a counter to start counting how many times the ball crosses the laser&#39;s path. The sound indicator includes a sound generator. The sound indicator activates a sound output from the sound generator when the ball crosses the laser&#39;s path. The controller provides one or more metrics to the user relating to the user&#39;s performance of the one or more ball handling drills.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/880,160 filed on Jul. 30, 2019, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments described herein generally relate to a ball handling system, and more particularly to a multipurpose ball handling system.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Avid basketball players are aware that the traditional method of lying down on one's back and shooting a ball up into the air may benefit one's form. However, it is also desirable to strengthen arms and improve hand-eye coordination. The traditional method does not provide such benefits. Hence, it is desirable to provide a ball handling system that can be used to strengthen arms and improve proper hand-eye coordination, in addition to improving one's form. Such a flexible system may be used with sports training as well as physical therapy and therapeutic medical settings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various advantages of the embodiments of the present disclosure will become apparent to one skilled in the art by reading the following specification and appended claims, and by referencing the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows an exemplary view of a multipurpose ball handling system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 shows an exemplary view of a projector device used in the multipurpose ball handling system according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3 shows an exemplary view of an image that simulates a ball handling environment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 shows an exemplary view of another image that simulates a ball handling environment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Exemplary embodiments disclosed herein describe a multipurpose ball handling system including at least one projector, at least one motion sensor, and a controller. The projector projects one or more images on a surface. The one or more images simulating an environment for a ball handling activity. The one or more images are projected onto a surface where a user can practice one or more ball handling drills. The motion sensor includes a laser. The laser points at the projected one or more images and the motion sensor sensing when a ball crosses the laser's path. The motion sensor activates a counter to start counting how many times the ball crosses the laser's path. The sound indicator includes a sound generator. The sound indicator activates a sound output from the sound generator when the ball crosses the laser's path. The controller provides one or more metrics to the user relating to the user's performance of the one or more ball handling drills.

In some exemplary embodiments, the motion sensor is a laser sensor counter beam.

In some exemplary embodiments, the surface is a ceiling.

In some exemplary embodiments, the one or more images simulating an environment for a ball handling activity includes an image of a basketball rim and backboard.

In some exemplary embodiments, the laser points at the back of the basketball rim to sense a perfect shot thrown by a user.

In some exemplary embodiments, the perfect shot is when the ball hits the image at a center middle location of the basketball rim.

In some exemplary embodiments, the counter is activated to start counting how many times the user made a perfect shot.

In some exemplary embodiments, the one or more ball handling drills include at least one or more from the group comprising aiming, shooting, throwing, form, and ball rotation.

In some exemplary embodiments, the one or metrics include number of perfect shots made by the user.

In some exemplary embodiments, the one or more metrics are displayed to the user.

The present disclosure together with additional objects, features and advantages of a multipurpose ball handling system will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading the following detailed description of the presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

In this respect, before explaining the current embodiments of the multipurpose ball handling system, it is to be understood that the multipurpose ball handling system is not limited in its applications to the details of construction and arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustration. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the concept of this disclosure may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the locatable pacifier.

It is therefore important that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent construction insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the multipurpose ball handling system. It is also to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for purposes of description and should not be regarded as limiting.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present disclosure describes a multipurpose ball handling system (“the system”). As illustrated in FIG. 1, the system 10 includes at least one projector 12, a ball (not shown), and a projector controller (not shown). In another exemplary embodiment, the system includes a tri-pod 13. The projector 12 may be attached to a tri-pod 13, or alternatively, the projector may sit on any flat surface. The ball may be any suitable ball. In a preferred embodiment, the ball is a basketball. The projector controller controls the operations of the projector and provides one or more metrics to a user. The projector controller may display one or more metrics on a display device for the user to view. The metric may include any suitable metrics. In a preferred embodiment, the metrics include the number of perfect shots made by the user.

The projector controller may provide the metrics to the user in any suitable way, such as, Bluetooth communications, pop-up notifications, text, email, or any other electronic form of communication. The projector controller may be implemented as hardware or software. Alternatively, the projector controller may be implemented as a combination of hardware and software. The projector controller may be embedded in the housing of the projector and/or a remote device, such as for example, a remote control or a smartphone device. In another exemplary embodiment, the system 10 may include a plurality of projectors 12.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the at least one projector 12 includes a battery compartment 15, a universal serial bus (USB) charging port 16, an attachment mechanism 17 for attaching the projector to a tri-pod 13, and at least one projecting lens 18 for projecting an image 14 onto a surface 19, (e.g., ceiling). An illustration of the projector 12 projecting an image 14 onto a ceiling surface 19 is shown in FIG. 1. Although the present disclosure describes the projector 12 projecting an image onto a ceiling surface, the projector may project the image on any suitable surface where a user can perform one or more ball handling drills (e.g., ball rotation, shooting, aiming, form, throwing).

In another exemplary embodiment, the projector 12 includes at least one motion sensor (not shown) and at least one sound indicator (not shown). The motion sensor includes a laser which is projected at the projected image. Any suitable motion sensor may be used. In a preferred embodiment, the motion sensor is a laser sensor counter beam. The sound indicator includes a sound generator for outputting a sound when the sound generator is activated.

As noted, the surface on which the image(s) may be projected by the projector 12 should be suitable for a user to practice ball handling drills. So, for example, a ceiling surface is an ideal surface for practicing ball handling drills since it is easier for a user to practice his/her form laying down than it is standing up. The projector 12 projects the image from a slide which is installed in the projector or input to the projector. The projector may include a permanent slide, such as, for example, a basketball hoop slide installed therein. However, any suitable slides may be installed/inputted in/to the projector. Moreover, any suitable battery may be used with the projector. In a preferred embodiment, the battery is a lithium battery.

In operation, the projector 12 may be positioned to the rear (i.e., behind) of a user's head where the user is lying on the floor on his/her backside. The user's face is facing the ceiling. The projector controller directs the projector 12 to project one or more images 14 on the ceiling 19. Any suitable image for simulating an environment for a ball handling activity may be projected onto the surface. In a preferred embodiment, the projected image 14 is a life size basketball rim and backboard, as shown in FIG. 3. In an alternative embodiment, the image may include a baseball player having an extended arm with an open glove in his hand trying to catch a ball, as shown in FIG. 4. The images simulate an environment for a ball handling activity by capturing one or more essential features from the ball handling environment. So, for example, in basketball, the player's goal is to shoot the ball through the rim of the basketball goal. To replicate this environment so that a user can practice shooting a ball through the rim of a basketball, the image projected onto the surface depicts a basketball rim and backboard. Although, the present disclosure describes the images in relation to basketball and baseball, any suitable images related to any ball handling activity, such as, for example, physical therapy activity for arm strengthening.

Further, while lying on the floor, the user may aim the ball at the projected image of the basketball rim and backboard and shoot (i.e., toss) the ball trying to hit the image at a location where the ball would enter the basketball rim. The motion sensor's laser may be pointed at the projected life size basketball rim and backboard image. More specifically, the laser may be pointed at the back of the basketball rim to sense a perfect shot thrown by a user. A perfect shot is a shot that goes through the basket's rim in the exact dead, center, and middle of the basket, and such a shot will cross the laser's path when the laser is pointed at the back of the basketball rim. Every time the ball passes through the path of the motion sensor, a counter will be activated to start counting how many times the ball crosses the laser's path and how many times the user made a perfect shot.

Moreover, every time the path of the laser is passed, a sound indicator will be activated to output a sound. Any suitable sound may be output, such as, for example, a swoosh sound.

In another exemplary embodiment, the location on the image to which the motion sensor's laser is pointing is adjustable. The user may direct where on the image the laser points.

In another exemplary embodiment, a user may use a smartphone device to interface and communicate with the system.

Overall, the system 10 provides users with the opportunity to work on their form, ball rotation and hand-eye coordination while also building up arm strength.

Accordingly, while example embodiments are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the figures and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure. Like numbers refer to like/similar elements throughout the detailed description.

It is understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.)

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art. However, should the present disclosure give a specific meaning to a term deviating from a meaning commonly understood by one of ordinary skill, this meaning is to be taken into account in the specific context this definition is given herein.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments of this invention have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments of the invention should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims. 

1. A multipurpose ball handling system comprising: at least one projector, the projector projects one or more images on a surface, the one or more images simulating an environment for a ball handling activity, the one or more images are projected onto a surface where a user can practice one or more ball handling drills; at least one motion sensor including a laser, the laser pointing at the projected one or more images and the motion sensor sensing when a ball crosses the laser's path, the motion sensor activating a counter to start counting how many times the ball crosses the laser's path; at least one sound indicator including a sound generator, the sound indicator activating a sound output from the sound generator when the ball crosses the laser's path; and a controller for providing one or more metrics to the user relating to the user's performance of the one or more ball handling drills.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the motion sensor is a laser sensor counter beam.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the surface is a ceiling.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more images simulating an environment for a ball handling activity includes an image of a basketball rim and backboard.
 5. The system of claim 4, wherein the laser points at the back of the basketball rim to sense a perfect shot thrown by a user.
 6. The system of claim 5, wherein a perfect shot is when the ball hits the image at a center middle location of the basketball rim.
 7. The system of claim 6, wherein the counter is activated to start counting how many times the user made a perfect shot.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more ball handling drills include at least one or more from the group comprising aiming, shooting, throwing, form, and ball rotation.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more metrics include number of perfect shots made.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more metrics are displayed to the user. 